Our
mission at OCVFA is to support and serve
the volunteer firefighters of
OrangeCounty by providing a venue
to discuss important issues and
legislation affecting the volunteer fire
service as well as the local community.

We will accomplish this
by fostering camaraderie among the members and by
building a positive relationship with other fire
service organizations.

The Orange County
Volunteer Firemenís Association was
organized in 1915. It was due to the
efforts of Chief Frank C. Hock of
Goshen, Chief Charles Higham of
Middletown, Chief H.B. Green of Chester
and Chief W.J. Lorch of
Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, that this
organization was founded in 1914.

The first meeting of delegates was held
in Middletown on October 8, 1914 when
by-laws were drafted. AT the next
regular meeting in Goshen, April 11,
1915 the by-laws were adopted and
officers were elected. The same year the
first annual convention and parade were
held at Goshen on October 6. The second
annual convention and parade took place
in Newburgh on October 4, 1916. At the
third convention in Middletown on
October 4, 1917 no parade was held at
Goshen as planned because seventy-four
members had gone to the World War. The
following year the parade again had to
be omitted because of the war, but the
annual convention was held in Middletown
on September 26, 1918. The annual
parades were resumed at the fifth
convention held in Goshen on October 2,
1919. The sixth and seventh annual
conventions and parades were held in
Port Jervis on September 16, 1920 and in
Middletown on October 6, 1921
respectively. The eighth annual
convention and fifth annual parade were
held at Cornwall on October 5, 1922.
Between 1922 and 1946, parades were held
at various places but not on an annual
basis. The 1948 parade was held at
Maybrook. Since then parades have been
held each year. The fiftieth anniversary
was celebrated by a convention and
parade held at Highland Falls. The
sixtieth anniversary was held in the
Town of Newburgh the host company being
good-Will Fire Department. Both a
convention and parade were held at this
time. The 1976 Bicentennial Parade will
be held at Vails Gate on September 18th,
the site of Temple Hill.

Previous to 1959, ten meetings were held
each year. Since 1959 meetings have been
held every other month and this
procedure continues to date. This
Association has been a long time member
of the Hudson Valley Volunteer Firemenís
Association and the Firemenís
Association of the State of New York.
After many hours of deliberation, the
Association was incorporated under the
Laws of the State of New York in January
1962. This work was handled by our Past
President Lawrence Stage.